National government
Head of state
Myanmar brings forward presidential vote
The vote to appoint a new president in Myanmar has been brought forward by a week, to 10 March. The move likely means an end to negotiations on whether the constitution could be amended so Aung San Suu Kyi could take the top job. Ms Suu Kyi’s ...
PM gives ministers an 'F', lashes out at illegal logging task force
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen unleashed a tirade against underperforming government officials in a pair of speeches on 25 February – musing aloud about reshuffling his Council of Ministers and wondering why rockets had not yet been deployed in the Kingdom’s recent “crackdown” on illegal logging. Speaking ...
Talks raise hopes, and fears, of a presidential deal
A third round of talks between military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has raised hopes among her supporters that the two sides can reach a power-sharing agreement over the presidency and new government. But ...
US, ASEAN agree on freedom of navigation principle
President Barack Obama and the leaders of Southeast Asia called on 16 February for peaceful resolution of the region’s maritime disputes as they concluded a summit in California. Mr Obama told a news conference that disputes must be resolved by legal means, including a case brought by ...
Indonesia welcomes Laos’ chairmanship, urges unity
Indonesia has thrown its support behind Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN, urging the country to maintain the group’s unity and centrality as it entered a new chapter in the establishment of the community.President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo conveyed his remarks to new ASEAN chair Laos during a ...
I’ll shake hands with protesters: Hun Sen
In an address to ruling party supporters in California on 15 February, Prime Minister Hun Sen wasted little time in taking several pot shots at US foreign policy and telling attendees he planned to confront anti-government protesters at the US-ASEAN summit head-on. Speaking at his hotel ...
Jokowi conveys words of wisdom to new ASEAN chair Laos
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has congratulated Laos on its selection for the ASEAN chairmanship in 2016, saying that this year is an important milestone for ASEAN, as the ASEAN Economic Community was coming into effect.At a courtesy call with President Choumaly Sayasone of Laos in ...
Ex-general who led Myanmar from dictatorship leaves mixed legacy
When U.S. President Barack Obama hosts a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders in California this week, his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein will be notably absent. Myanmar’s outgoing president abruptly pulled out of the summit as secretive talks continued between his country’s powerful military and the incoming ...
Stimulus stuck in slow lane
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak’s appointment at the economic helm late last August was followed by rapid-fire launches of stimulus measures to revive the slowing economy. Measures worth more than 400 billion baht were announced but disbursement of the funds was slow, snagged by red tape. ...
Union parliament sets March 17 as deadline for presidential nominations
Myanmar’s Union parliament has set 17 March as the deadline for the lower and upper houses to submit their nominations for president. Holding its first session today with MPs elected last November, the Pyidaungsu announced that parliamentary committees would start discussing the presidential nominees on 17 March. Keep reading ...
